Admission of patients to the hospice care program – Ohio Admin. Code 3701-19-20

A hospice care program must comply with the following requirements:

• Admit patients, provide care and services, and discharge or transfer patients without discrimination on the basis of sex, age, race, creed, national origin, or handicap;
• Require that the patient or his authorized representative sign an informed consent form;
• Permit a hospice patient to withdraw consent for hospice care at any time; and
• Provide the patient or his representative with information regarding the scope of services provided.

It is recommended that the hospice program also do the following:

• Obtain the following information from the patient’s attending physician, if any:
  • Information about current medical findings;
  • Dietary restrictions;
  • Medication orders;
  • Treatment orders; and
  • Other patient orders; and
• Obtain from each patient’s attending physician, if any, designation of an alternate physician to contact for emergency care of the patient or review of the patient’s plan of care when the attending physician is not available.